Jakeman's Maple Syrup History

 

In 1876 our great grandparents, George and Betsy Anne Jakeman left Oxfordshire, England to settle in Oxford County, near Woodstock, Ontario.

The local Native Canadians taught the maple syrup making technique to the Jakeman family. They were shown how to collect sap from maple trees in the early spring and boil it down in an iron kettle over an open wood fire until it was a syrupy golden brown.

In 1919, our grandfather, Ernest Jakeman, purchased his first evaporator, setting it in a crude shelter with no roof. He hung 500 buckets.

In 1951, our father, George Jakeman, purchased a large 5' x 16' evaporator to replace the old one. In 1955, a roof was built over the shanty, but in 1969 a fire forced abandonment of the original sugar shanty site.

In 1970 we enlarged our operation, building a new sugar shanty and purchasing a new oil-fired evaporator.

In 1976 we moved the "Sweaburg General Store" that was built in 1855 and used as a store and post office in the nearby village of Sweaburg. The building now functions as our maple gift shop, museum and pancake house.

The family tradition continues with Bob and Mary Jakeman and family, who maintain the production of some of the finest maple syrup from over 1000 taps. All the sap is collected by plastic pipeline and transported to our sugar shanty (next to our country store) where it is then boiled in our modern, high efficiency natural gas fired steam evaporator and then finished on a steam finishing pan. The maple syrup is graded and then bottled for use throughout the year.

The Jakeman Family

from left, Mary Jakeman, Bob Jakeman, Chad, Kim, Devin and Stuart (not shown)

 

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